Separating means for sheet-feeding machines.



E. 0. CARTWRIGHT.

SEPARATING MEANS FOR SHEET FEEDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.10,19I3. RENEWED JULY 29,1915.

PatentedMar. 7, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1 0 away A TTOR/VEYS.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH co., WASHINGTDN, D. c.

E. O. CARTWRIGHT. V SEPARATING MEANS FOR SHEET FEEDING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1913. RENEWED JULY'2B,1915.

1,174,391. Patented Mar. 7,1916. I

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l/Vl/E/VTOR I 1 IT 1 1 0. C arZWn'yZZ- WITNESSES:

QOM? E ms COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (20., WASHINGTON, D. c.

E. O. CARTWRIGHT.

SEPARATINGMEANS FOR SHEET FEEDING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10', 1913. RENEWED JULY 28. 1915. 1,174,391.

1916. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Patented Mar.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH $0., WASHINGTON, n. c.

"feet the separation of the top sheet from a pileof paper or similar material and ad v rrnn s'ra'rns PA T E E nanns'r o. CARTWRIG-HT, or SPRINGFIELD, onIo, ASSIGNOR or ONE-THIRD ro Louis K. rrsnna, or DAYTON, OHIO, AND ONE-THIRD T0 BYRON 1). CAMPBELL, or wns'r MILTON, onro.

SEPARATING MEANS FOR SHEET-FEEDING MACHINES.

Patented at... 'r, 1916.

Application filed February 10, 1913, Serial No. 747,378; Renewed. July 28, 1915. Serial No. 42,453.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, ERNEST O. CART- wnieHT, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separating Means for Sheet Feeding Machines, of which the following is a specification. My present invention relates to that class of separating mechanisms employedto efvance it to a position to be operated upon by a printing press.

My present invention, while adapted for use in connection with any of the types of printing machines having conveyer mechanisms that take up the separated sheet or sheets and present the same to the printing elements of the printing press, is more especially applicable for use in connection with my new and improved automatic printing.

. press disclosed in my copending application, Serial. No. 747,875 filed on even date with this application, since it forms, asit. were, a cooperatlve part of the complete automatic press mechanism shown and described in the said copending application.

The primary objectof this invention is to provide a simple and economical construction of parts having such'connected relation whereby to encompass the same in a relatively small space, and to afford a greater degree of reliability in the separation of a single sheet from the top of the pile than is now apparent in separators of the same general class to which" my' present invention belongs.

Another object of my invention is to pro: vide certain improvements in which are included timing devices that are applied to the sheet separating and forwarding means whereby to provide for the easy adjustment of the separator to various sizes and qualities of paper and other material.

With other objects in view, that Will hereinafter appear, my invention comprehends a mechanism for the purposes stated that embodies the peculiar arrangement and novel combination of parts hereinafter set forth, specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in, the drawings hereunto annexed. in'which Figure l is a side elevation of iny paper tion. v

parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a ver-' separating mechanism, so much of-my complete printing machine being shown to clearly locate thelsaid mechanism, the top separating rolls being in their up posi- Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof,

tical cross section thereof, on the line 33 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is'a detail cross section on the line M on Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is'a similar view on the line 55 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a side'elev'ation similarto Fig. 1

with the top separatorfrolls shown at their down or sheet forwarding positions. Fig. 7 is'a top plan view of theparts shown in Fig. 6 portionsbeing broken away. F

'8 is a cross section on the line 88 on Fig.

6. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the movable clutch member carried on the lower separating roll shaft, by which rotatory motion is imparted to the said shaft,

at times. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective new of the fixedly mountedclutch member on the lower separating roll'zshaft.

fingers. Fig. 14 is a detailperspectiveiviewof one ofthe saidsupporting fingers Fig.

'15 is a detail perspective view ofthe upper and lower separating rolls. Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of one of the initiators or paper feeding wipers. Figs.

17l 8 -19 and 20 are a series of diagrammatic views that illustrate the positioning of the upper and lower separating rolls in 'relationto the governing cam on the main separator shaft and also the various positions assumed by the initiator in relation to the aforesaid devices. In my separating means I have particularly provided a compact arrangement of the parts and-for affording a maximum degree of reliability in'the separating of a single sheet from the top of the pile and for the utilization of certain timing devicesv that cooperate wlth the sa d separating. means andtheforwarding mechanism that 7 receives the separated sheet, and arranged for synchronous action With the printing means, it being also adapted for easy adjustment for working various sizes and qualities of paper and other material.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. l of the drawing, 1 designates a revolving shaft that extends transversely over the top pf the pile of sheets to be separated and it carries a plurality of members 2 hereinafter termed initiators, since they initiate the se arating of the top sheet from the pile. and deliver it to the main separating members, in the nature of two (or more) sets of coacting rolls located in advance of the top of the pile, and in position to receive between them, the top sheet or sheets advanced from the pile by the initiators 2.

The initiators each comprise a lever-like arm 3 adjustable circumferentially on shaft 1 and'laterally adjustable thereon by a set screw connection 4 see Fig. 7. The arms 3, shown in detail Fig. 16, include a sping controlled member 5 that carries a strip 6 of frictional material, preferably rubber, and is pivoted on the pendent arm 3 whereby to provide for a yielding movement of the member 5 under adjusted spring tension, to thereby effect a resilient contact between the initiators and the top of the sheet pile, the members 6 acting to wipe off the top sheet from the pile of sheets as the said initiators, at predetermined times, are swung around with the shaft. Shaft 1 1s journaled in a rocker frame 7 consisting of a pair of opposite side arms that are fulcrumed on a shaft 8 journaled in the side frames of the separator and acts as a supporting pivot for the said rocker frame 7. The shaft 8 is driven by a gear 9 on the main driving shaft 10 of the separator, meshing with a gear 11 on one end of the said shaft 8, which on its other end, carries gears 1218 the latter of which is engaged by a large gear 14; on the shaft 1. In this manner a constant rotation of shaft 1 is effected.

15 designates a shaft whose opposite ends are journaled in the side arms of the rocker frame 7, and the said shaft 15 carries the upper separating rolls 16, and is driven by a gear 17 that meshes with the small diameter gear 13' on the shaft 8 that also meshes with and drives the large gear l-l.

18 designates ashaft located below and in vertical alinement with the shaft 15 and it carries the lower separating rolls 19 that cooperate with the upper rolls 16 in the manner and for the purpose presently explained. The shaft 18 is journaled in the side frame 20 of the separating mechanism and at one end, outside the frame, it has a clutch 21 for intermittent rotation in a determined direction. flanged sleeve 22 having projections 23, that serve as one member of the clutch, and loosely mounted to rotate on the sleeve 22 and Clutch 21 includes a lengthwise slidable thereon is a pinion 24 that meshes with the largest pitch diameter 12 of the double gear on the shaft 8. Pinion 24 includes a grooved hub with projections 25 on its face that serve as the other member of the clutch and for coacting with the opposing projections 23. The groove in the hub 24 forms a raceway for one prong "of a controlling yoke 26 that is rockably mounted and has a forked portion for straddling the said grooved hub. One prong of the yoke contacts with an angle boss 27 see Figs. 2, 3 and 8 mounted on a cross brace rod 28 on the rocker frame 7. Yoke 28 is normally pressed outwardly to release the clutch members 25 and by means of the spring 29.

The main driving shaft 10 carries a large gear 9 that meshes with and drives a smaller gear 11, on the shaft 8 and with a sprocket or other suitable connection for receiving power from the printing mechanism. Shaft 10 on that end opposite the end that has the gear 9, carries a cam device consisting of an inner disk 32, and an'outer disk 33, the inner disk being formed with a relatively long hub and the other 83, with a shorter hub, the long hub having a set screw connection for adjusting it on the shaft 10 and the other hub a similar set screw for adjusting it on the hub of the disk 32. A portion of the circumference of each of the disks 3283 is cut away to a smaller desired diameter. By using two disks and cooperatively adjusting them as stated, makes it possible to alter the circumference of both pitches of the cam, and the adjustment relative to the shaft 10 affords the proper timing under different conditions that might confront the separating mechanism. The brace rod28, on the rocker frame, carries a roller 34that travels over the face of both cam disks. I

To provide for a proper action of my separating mechanism, particularly the upper rolls 16, the pile of sheets is kept in perpendicular alinement with the wiping or receiving surface of the said separating rolls, by means of a plate 35 pivotally sus pended in the machine framing, best shown in Fig. 12', by reference to which it will be noticed, along the top of the said plate 35 are a series of rodlike uprights 36, that have stud pintles for rotatably engaging sockets in the said plate 35. The upper ends of the rods 36 have flexible extensions, and these are bent to a proper radius to act as fenders 37 whose function is to keep the edge of the sheets from contact with the lower separating roll, and at the same time serve as supports for the sheets when pushed between the rolls for separation. Since the rods 36 are laterally shiftable, their fender portions maybe adjusted to different locations along the edge of the sheet pile, or

pus

with a view of overcoming buckling in the sheet, as it passes from the separating rolls onto the conveyer devices. The separating rolls are each surfaced withsome substance of great frictional quality, preferably rubber.

The forwardly feeding set of rolls 16, being the upper set in my present showing, are surfaced with a very soft clinging rubher and located above the line in a plane of the top of the paper pile, and the said rolls 16 are continuously rotated, at a predetermined speed, in the forward direction, so that the sheet or sheets pushed beneath it, by the initiators or feeders, will be wiped or drawn from the pile.

The upper rolls16 as before stated, are carried by a rocking frame and are lifted, at proper times, by the cam devices heretofore explained. The other'or lower set of rolls 19 are surfaced with a substance of less frictional quality than that of the other rolls and the said lower rolls 19 are located immediately below the top set of rolls in such a manner that the top surface of the said rolls is in a horizontal line with the top of the. sheet pile. The lower set of separating rolls 19 is intermittently rotated at a speed somewhat greater than the top rolls, and in the direction that the sheet or sheets pushed above it by the initiators are driven back upon the pile, see Fig. 19. The aforesaid set of rolls 19 is secured by any suitable means against rotation in the (opposite) forward direction, and to accomplish this. purpose the clutch member 21 is engaged by a friction segment 30 swivelly connected with anadjusting screw 31 stationed in the standard 38 which in turn is secured to the frame 20. The intermittent rotations of the said rolls 19 is effected by the rise and fall of the top rolls 16 with the rocker frame that carries the brace or 7 cross rod 28, on which is mounted a beveled V clutch shifter 27 that engages the yoke 26 and moves it against the tension of its spring 29 and in consequence connects the two clutch members, hereinbefore referred to, and thereby puts into action the drive for rotating the lower set of rolls 19 when" the top rolls are in contact with them or with the sheet or sheets between the two sets of rolls, (see Fig. 8).

In the practical embodiment of the sheet separating means described I have found, on account of the different frictional surfaces of the opposing rolls, that the frictional contact between the top rolls and the sheet or sheets beneath it, is greater than the friction of the bottom rolls against the sheet between the rolls, and the friction between the bottom rolls and a sheet in contact therewith is greater than the friction between that sheet and the one in contact with it and between the rolls. By reason of the arrangement of the separating rolls means, also shown in and their coiiperatingactuating means, the practical operation of the said rolls is as follows;

Referring now to Fig. 17, which shows printing press disclosed in my copending application No. 747,37 5 and before referred to, the calipering rod 39 which forms. a

of sheets, and it should be specific part of the sheet pile elevating the said copending application and in another copending' a plication filed by me, rises from the top sheets.

As the member 6, travels forwardly, as indicatedby the arrow 43, the upper-ones of the sheets are projected forward, the number of on the frictional quality of the paper, it being understood, since the lower rolls 19 at this time, are stationary, they do not retard the initial advancement of the top sheets as stated and to the position "indicated on F 18, at which time the initiatory feed action on the paper sheets is about completed. 1 a 7 When the partsare positioned as seen in Fig. 18, further forward movement of the cam disks, see arrow 40, releases the roller 84, and the frame 7 that carries the upper rolls 16 is ,caused to assume the position shown in Fig, '19. 1 j

To prevent a. possible drag ofthe wiper member 6 after it has-completed its sheet pile of sheets and frees the sheets thus advanced depending Serial No'. 747,379, g

forwarding function, the frame ,7 is caused to instantly lift, when the timing cam reaches the position in Fig. 18, that is to say, that end that carries the wiper memher 6 is quickly swung upwardly and for such purpose a thrust spring device 41 is used which is arranged in a manner that is clearly understood by referring to Fig. 1.2 of the drawing. To further provide for moving or causing the Wiper member 6 to kick back and be positively free from engagementwith the sheets the pivotally hung and pendent arm 3 of the initiators or wipers each engage an upwardly extended member 50 that is apertured to allow for a limited movement of the said member 50 alonga rod 51 upon which is mounted a coiled spring 52, said spring 52 being so arranged that when (see Figs, 12 and 16) the i the wiper 6 engages the sheets, as in Fig. 18,

It should be here stated that while the the said spring 52 will be slightly comframe 7 under ordinary conditions will drop to the position shown in Fig. 19 by gravity, practical experiere has demonstrated the employment of spring pressure for, quickly lifting the outer end of the frame 7 and holding its other end down on the timer cam.

As the above operation takes place the lower feed rolls 19 are brought into gear with the top rolls driving means through clutch devices 2 5 and 23, and caused to ro tate in a direction reverse to the advancing movement of the sheets, see arrow 42, Fig. 1.9. The top rolls now forward the top sheet only in the direction of its travel, since the bottom rolls now act successively upon the under sheets as each is exposed to their surfaces, and not only retard the forward slide of the said under sheets but return them in the direction of the travel of the bottom rolls and reverse to the feed movement of the uppermost sheet. Furthermore, the greater speed of the bottom rolls takes care of any varying number of sheets in order that all, except the top one, are sent back onto the pile before the initiators make their subsequent impulse.

N hen my sheet separating means is included in my automatic press, as before noted, the primary driving means that controls the entire mechanism of my automatic press, moves continuously and the timing devices that coact therewith are such, that the sheet separators are taken care of, not alone for a delivery of a sheet to the printing cylinder at the proper time, but also for a correct synchronous action with the elevator from which the sheets are taken and the conveying mechanism that form a part of my complete automatic high speed printing press.

Briefly stated the operation of my sheet feeding and separating means is as follows: the parts now being as shown in Fig. 17. The initiators start any number of sheets from the top of the pile of sheets; the top rolls are lifted, the bottom rolls now being stationary. At the proper time the lowering of the top rolls into contact with advanced sheets starts the bottom rolls in their revolution, as the top rolls are now advancing the top sheet toward its destination, while the bottom rolls, with greater speed are returning the under sheets to the top of the pile. At a predetermined moment, according to the physical condition of the material fed, the top rolls are lifted, the rotation of the bottom rolls thereby stopped, the mechanism referred to now awaiting the action of the initiators for the subsequent operation. If only one sheet should be advanced and presented to the rolls 16 and 19 by the initiators, the frictional advantage of the top rolls 16 insures the advance of the sheet, while the bottom rolls 19 have nothing to do.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it is believed the complete construction of my present invention, its operation and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

W hat I claim is: p

1. In a sheet feeding and separating mechanism in which are included opposing surfaces for engaging sheets advanced from a pile of sheets; a means for advancing the topmost sheet from the pile toward the said opposing surfaces, the said means including a rotatable body having a surface for frictionally engaging the topmost paper sheet and a ivancing it in the direction of rotation of the said body, means for in stantly lifting the said surface that engages the sheet when the latter reaches its prodetermined limit of sheet advancing movement, the said means including devices for bodily lifting the contacting rotatable body and other means carried by the said rotatable body for imparting a vertical swinging movement to the said surface that en gages the topmost sheet as the said surface is lifted with the rotatable body.

2. In a sheet feeding machine in which are included opposing surfaces that engage sh ets advanced from a pile of sheets, a means for advancing the topmost sheet from a pile of sheets to be engaged by the said opposing surfaces, the said means including a rock ably mounted frame, 'an arm that is rotatably mounted on the said frame, a member pivotally connected to the said arm and which has a surface for frictionally engaging and advancing the topmost sheet of a pile of sheets, means for holding the rockable frame under tension as the said member engages and advances the sheet and adapted for instantly swinging up the said frame and the sheet engaging member when the top sheet is advanced to a predetermined point, the said paper engaging memher being mounted on the rotatable arm, and devices carried by the said arm that cooperate with the said member for imparting an upwardly swinging movement to said member as it is lifted from the paper when the'rockable frame is swung up.

3. A sheet separating means for sheet feeding means that advance the sheets from the top of a pile of sheets continuously maintained at a predetermined plane; the said separating means comprising a pair of superimposed rolls, the upper of which has a relatively soft frictional surface, the lower one of which has a relatively hard frictional surface, the upper roll having vertical movement with respect to the other roll, means for intermittently advancing at least one of the sheets from the pile onto the lower roll, other means for bringing the top roll down against the sheet and the lower roll after the 7 sheet has been initially advanced, said other means including a driver for rotating the top and bottom rolls, the top roll forwardly and the bottom roll rearwardly and at greater speed than the top roll.

at. A sheet separating means for sheet feeding means that advance the sheets from the top of a pile of sheets continuously maintained at a predetermined plane; the said separating means comprising a pair of superimposed rolls, the upper of'which has a relatively soft frictional surface, the lower one of which has a relatively hard frictional surface, the upper roll having vertical movement with respect to the other roll, means for intermittently advancing at least one of the sheets from the pile onto the lower roll, other means for bringing the top roll down against the sheet and the lowerroll after the sheet has been initially advanced, said other means including a driver for rotating the top and bottom rolls, the top roll forwardly and the bottom roll rearwardly and at greater speed than the top roll, and further means for throwing the sheet advancing means out of its sheet advancing action immediately after the separating rolls engage the sheet or sheets. g

5. In a sheet feeding and separating mechanism for advancing sheets from a pile of sheets, the combination with an automatically lifted sheet pile elevator, and a continuously movable sheet conveyer; of means for feeding the topmost sheet or sheets from the pile, other means for engaging the sheets as they are primarily advanced from the pile and which delivers the topmost sheet to the sheet conveyer, the said means comprising top and bottom opposing rolls, timing devices that lift the top roll from the 1 bottom roll at predetermined times to thereby arrest the movement ofpthe bottom roll and for cutting out the means that advance the sheet from the pile While the opposing rolls are in active engagement with the primarily advanced sheet.

6. In a sheet feeding'and separating mechanism adapted for advancing sheets from a sheet pile to a sheet conveyer that carries the sheet to a printing mechanism; a plurality of continuously rotated rolls normally out of operative position, another plurality of separating rolls normally in a fixed position relatively to the pile of sheets, means for intermittently bringing the continuously rotated rolls into contact with the other rolls and simultaneously imparting rotation to the said other rolls ata greater speed than the continuously rotating rolls,

7. In a sheet feeding and separating mechanism adapted for advancing sheets from a sheet pile to a sheet conveyer that carries the sheet to a printing mechanism; aplurality of continuously rotated rollsnormally out of against rotation in a direction opposite to 7 their normal direction of rotation. I

.8. In a sheet feeding and separating mechanism adapted for advancingsheets from a sheet pile to a sheet conveyerthat carries the sheet to a printing mechanism; a plus rality of continuously rotated rolls normally out of operative position, another plurality of separating rolls normally in a fixed position relatively tothe pile of sheets, means for intermittently bringing the continuously rotated rolls into contact with the other rolls and simultaneously imparting rotation to the'other rolls at a greater speed than the continuously rotating rolls,

the said continuously rotating rolls having a surface of greater frictional efliciency than the opposing surface of the intermittently rotated rolls.

ERNEST O. CARTWRIGHT. Witnesses:

AUG. L. BEAUIAIRE, HAROLD LARSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

